Defense Secretary Austin makes unannounced visit to Iraq

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin landed in Baghdad Tuesday for an unannounced visit to Iraq.

He issued a statement saying he’s there “to reaffirm the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership as we move toward a more secure, stable, and sovereign Iraq.”

Austin is the highest ranking cabinet official to visit Iraq since the beginning of the Biden administration.

The stop was kept secret until he landed for security reasons.

Austin is in the midst of a multi-nation visit to the region.